Mass Arrests in Central London as Police Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian Activists for Defying Anti-Terrorism Ban
In central London on Saturday, authorities apprehended 466 individuals for participating in protests against the British government’s decision to outlaw the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action under terrorism legislation.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that by 9pm, 466 arrests had been made in support of Palestine Action. Eight additional arrests were made for separate offenses, including five instances of assault on officers; however, no injuries were reported as serious.
Palestine Action is a UK-based organization that claims to target weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government by disrupting their operations. The group’s ban under UK law now prohibits membership or solicitation of support for Palestine Action, placing them on par with terrorist organizations such as Hamas, al Qaeda, and ISIS.
The controversial decision triggered protests organized by Defend Our Juries in London’s Parliament Square on Saturday afternoon. The Metropolitan Police warned that anyone expressing support for the proscribed group would be arrested.
An anonymous 80-year-old protestor from Surrey expressed her disapproval of the government’s decision, stating that it was a “farce.” Organizers aimed to assemble at least 500 people peacefully with signs, but due to police presence, only a few were arrested.
According to the Metropolitan Police, approximately 500 to 600 individuals were present when the demonstration began, with many being onlookers, media, or people not holding placards supporting Palestine Action. The police asserted that all those who came to Parliament Square to express support for Palestine Action were either arrested or in the process of being apprehended.
Arrested protesters were taken to “prisoner processing points” in the Westminster area, with those whose identities could be confirmed being bailed, subject to conditions prohibiting further attendance at protests supporting Palestine Action.
Onlookers witnessed scuffles between protestors and police as peaceful protesters were arrested and removed from the area, prompting shouts of “shame on you.”
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commended the police for handling “the very small number of people whose actions crossed the line into criminality.” She emphasized that while the right to protest is protected, this situation involved a specific and narrowly proscribed organization.
Amnesty International UK criticized the arrests of peaceful protesters as a violation of the UK’s international obligations to safeguard freedom of expression and assembly.
Last week, Palestine Action’s co-founder Huda Ammori successfully secured a bid for a judicial review challenging the ban, with a London High Court judge granting permission.